Biomedical Engineering BEng
London, Bloomsbury
This exciting three-year programme provides a grounding in the practical application of engineering principles and design concepts to healthcare technologies. Our programme draws on the research strengths of UCL and its excellent links to local hospitals, preparing you to work in a wide range of technology areas, ranging from imaging and diagnosis to monitoring and treatment.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
Programme starts
September 2026Application deadline
14 Jan 2026UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- Mathematics and Physics required at grade A. Mathematics and Physics required. Biology acceptable in lieu of Physics, if Physics grade A or 7 achieved at GCSE
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- ABB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A in Mathematics, B in Physics. Biology acceptable in lieu of Physics, if Physics grade A or 7 achieved at GCSE
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points overall in three higher level subjects, including grade 6 in Mathematics and Physics, with no higher level score below 5. Biology at Higher Level acceptable in lieu of Physics, if Physics taken at Standard Level.The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 34 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points overall in three higher level subjects, including Mathematics at 6 and Physics at 5. Biology at Higher Level acceptable in lieu of Physics, if Physics taken at Standard Level. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Mathematics and Physics required. Biology acceptable in lieu of Physics, if Physis grade 7/A achieved at GCSE.
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher) Mathematics and Physics at Advanced Higher required. Biology acceptable in lieu of Phyics if Physics taken at Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry to this undergraduate programme, you may be eligible to apply for the Engineering Foundation Year at UCL. Designed for individuals from non-traditional educational backgrounds who do not meet standard entry requirements for UCL's undergraduate engineering degrees, this pre-degree programme helps you develop confidence, academic and study skills, and subject specific knowledge. On successful completion of the Engineering Foundation Year, you can gain access to a selection of the engineering undergraduate degree programmes at UCL. Find out more about the Engineering Foundation Year.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. Access UCL is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at UCL. We assess your eligibility for Access UCL based on the information contained within your UCAS application. We review and update our Access UCL eligibility criteria and datasets every year, so please check the requirements for the year you plan to apply.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 1
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
Engineers specialise in medicine work alongside clinicians, therapists and researchers to develop systems, equipment and devices in order to diagnose and treat illnesses. Biomedical engineers are responsible for lifesaving and life-enhancing technologies such as prosthetics, dentures, artificial hearts, dialysis machines, robotic and laser eye surgery, pacemakers, and wearable technology.
This degree is part of the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP), a teaching framework that engages students in interdisciplinary activities designed to provide graduates not only with a strong grasp of the fundamentals of their discipline, but with a broad understanding of the complexity and context of engineering problems.
In Year 1, you receive an introduction to biomedical engineering, including electronics mechanics and computing, with mathematical modelling and analysis, which are needed to design and develop complex medical technologies.
In Year 2, you take modules in areas of biomedical engineering such as anatomy and physiology, tissue engineering and biomechanics. You will also select an IEP minor from a range offered across UCL Engineering and beyond, which may include programming, entrepreneurship or a foreign language.
In Year 3, you will study three further biomedical modules in engineering, two further modules from your IEP engineering minor and one other optional module, as well as undertaking a major individual project linked to research strengths across UCL Engineering and UCL's substantial healthcare partners.
We offer the option of studying a three-year Biomedical Engineering BEng or a more in-depth four-year Biomedical Engineering MEng programme. The first three years of study for both programmes are identical and transfer between the two is possible up to the end of the third year. An average weighted mark of 55% across the three years of study is required to be eligible for transfer between programmes.
What this course will give you
Biomedical Engineering is highly interdisciplinary, drawing knowledge from our department and other departments at UCL, to combine expertise in engineering, science and healthcare and beyond.
We have close links to several major teaching hospitals and our staff work side-by-side with doctors and health professionals. Their expert knowledge will directly benefit your lectures and teaching sessions.
Students in their final year carry out individual, innovative projects, often within a world-leading research group in the department, putting their knowledge into practice.
UCL has been rated 2nd overall in the UK for research power in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BEng (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year.
Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year.
A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Your learning
Academic lectures are supported by practical problem-solving tasks, helping you develop an understanding of teamwork, the design process and communication.
As well as attending lectures, you will undertake tutorials and practical work, including individual and group projects. Year 3 projects are conducted in active, well-equipped research groups, often involving collaborations with local hospitals. Some biomedical engineering lectures and projects are taken by a mix of biomedical engineering, medical physics and medical students, and students from other engineering disciplines, thus reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the work.
This degree is part of the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP). Students register for a core discipline, but also engage in activities that span across departments. This means that the development of fundamental technical knowledge takes place alongside specialist and interdisciplinary research-based projects and professional skills development.
During each week, you should expect about 15 contact hours made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and laboratory sessions. There may be more contact hours if there are practicals scheduled.
In addition to the timetabled hours, you are expected to spend around 20 hours per week in self-directed study, reviewing the material and completing coursework.
Overall, you should expect to spend at least 40 hours per week on your studies.
Each module typically consists of around 36-40 contact hours spread over a ten-week term (excluding reading week).
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a wide range of methods, including coursework, presentations, group work and end-of-year examinations.
Accessibility
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
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Biomedical Engineering information video
Watch this video to find out more about Biomedical Engineering at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information.
The foundation of your career
In recent years, our graduates have gone on to roles in research and academia, clinical science and the NHS, medical physics and biomedical engineering related industries, as well as employers outside the sector (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-2021).
To learn more about our graduate career paths and find out where our alumni are working, please visit our Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering careers webpage.
Employability
Engineers tend to be logical, numerate problem solvers who are good at working in interdisciplinary teams.
There is a demand for people who have developed such skills in a wide range of careers within academia, hospitals or industry.
Accreditation
This programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council.
Holders of accredited degrees fully meet the academic requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meet the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Full satisfaction of IET requirements to register as a Chartered Engineer would require 1 year of further accredited study at MSc level.
In order to meet the Engineering Council requirements for an accredited degree, students on this programme must pass all modules, with some specific exceptions for a very limited number of modules, where failing by a small margin may be tolerated. If a student fails a module (two attempts are permitted) they may be eligible to transfer to a related non-accredited degree.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2026/27) | £9,790 |
| Tuition fees (2026/27) | £42,700 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Foundation Year fees for UK students are £6,000.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
It is expected that students will provide their own laptop that would allow them to have access to the Virtual Learning Environment used at UCL (Moodle), where students will access the module content and submit assignments.
It is advisable to have a Windows laptop. While we’ll try our best to ensure they are compatible with both MS Windows and Mac OS, some of the more specialised software we provide is only developed/supported for Windows operating systems.
This device should also allow students to install certain pieces of software. The minimum Windows specifications are Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 21H2 or higher), 8GB RAM, any Intel or AMDx86–64 processor with four logical cores, greater than 1.7GHz and AVX2instruction set support and with at least one USB-A port (or a USB-C to USB-A adaptor/hub).
For complex modelling and processing, you will need a 3 GHz or greater processor with 6 or more cores, 16GB RAM and a dedicated GPU with 4GB or more VRAM, DirectX 11 (Direct3D 11 or greater) graphics card.
Laptops with 8GB RAM cost approximately £300-£400 and above (as of January 2025) and laptops with 16GB RAM cost approximately £600-£700 as of January 2025).
If students have an existing device that does not quite meet the recommendations below, we understand that they might want to wait and see how it gets on, before deciding whether to upgrade. UCL Library has a selection of devices for short term loan but only for use with pre-installed programs/apps.
You will require an approved model of calculator for use in exams. Currently this is either the Casio FX-85GT X or Casio FX-83GT X, which can be purchased for around £11 - £15. For details, please see the UCL examinations guide.
This programme does not have any other additional costs outside of generic stationery and occasional travel to other sites in the London area. Purchasing books is optional.
For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
Biomedical Engineering students possess altruistic characteristics and demonstrate a genuine desire to improve healthcare outcomes for their community.
As a student, you will explore novel and innovative solutions while fuelling your curiosity, and navigating the dynamic intersections of biology and engineering.
Joining UCL, the home of disruptive thinkers, ensures you will become part of a university that not only values these qualities but also actively contributes to changing the world for the better.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Got questions? Get in touch
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